Method and apparatus for editing document in colors

ABSTRACT

A .[.device.]. .Iadd.method and apparatus .Iaddend.for performing colored editing for a document prepared and displayed by a word processor or microcomputer having a word processing function is disclosed which includes a character information storing means for storing information on each of characters displayed on a display screen, a color information storing means for storing information on the display color and background color of each of the characters, editorial area specifying means for specifying an area of the document displayed on the display screen, as an editorial area, an editorial area storing means for storing positional information of the editorial area specified by the editorial area specifying means, color setting means for setting the display color and background color of characters included in the specified editorial area of the document, and color information processing means for updating the contents of that portion of the color information storing means which corresponds to the specified editorial area, on the basis of color information from the color setting means.

The present invention relates to a device for editing a document incolors which is suited to be used in editing a document formed by a wordprocessor or a personal computer having a word processing function.

When a document is prepared and edited by a word processor or a personalcomputer having a word processing function, inputted characters andsymbols (hereinafter simply referred to as "characters") aresuccessively displayed on the fluorescent screen (namely, the displayscreen) of a cathode ray tube (hereinafter referred to as "CRT") displaydevice. In some cases, it is desired to emphasize a given part of thedocument more than the remaining part. In such cases, an underline isgiven to the above part of the document, or characters in the part aremade larger than other characters. Techniques of this kind are describedin a Japanese patent application Laid-open No. 58-134327, a Japanesepatent application Laid-open No. 58-56014, and a Japanese patentapplication Laid-open No. 58-14241.

The CRT display device and other display devices are recently used asthe display means of a personal computer having a word processingfunction, and in most cases the display means can perform color display.Under the present conditions, however, such a personal computer fails toutilize the color display function of the display means effectively inpreparing and editing a document.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for editing adocument in colors which can readily change the display color of a givenpart of a document displayed on a display screen, to emphasize the givenpart by color display when the document is edited on the display screen.

In order to display characters in colors on the display screen of acolor display device, the device is required to include a characterinformation storing means for storing character information oncharacters displayed on the display screen and color information storingmeans for storing color information on the display color and backgroundcolor of the device characters. Thus, a display means can display apredetermined character on the display screen in a predetermined color,on the basis of the information stored in the character informationstoring means and color information storing means.

The present invention utilizes the above-mentioned fundamental structureof a color display device, and is characterized in that the contents ofthat portion of the color information storing means which corresponds toa limited area of the display screen, are updated on the basis ofspecified color data. In order to perform the above updating operation,a device for editing a document in colors according to one embodiment ofthe present invention includes editorial area specifying means forspecifying an area of a document displayed on a display screen, as aneditorial area, an editorial area storing means for storing positionalinformation of the editorial area specified by the editorial areaspecifying means, color setting means for setting the display color andbackground color of characters included in the specified editorial area,and color information processing means for updating the contents of thatportion of the color information storing means which corresponds to thespecified editorial area, on the basis of color information from thecolor setting means.

In a preferred embodiment of a device for editing a document in colorsaccording to the present invention, the editorial area specifying meansincludes a cursor displayed on the display screen, cursor control meansfor controllably moving the cursor on the display screen, start positionspecifying means for specifying a first position where the cursor islocated by the cursor control means, as the starting position of aneditorial area, and end position specifying means for specifying asecond position where the cursor is located by the cursor control means,as the end position of the editorial area, to make it easy to specifythe editorial area.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, the cursor control means includesa cursor control key provided on a keyboard, to control the movement ofthe cursor on the basis of a command from the cursor control key, thestart position specifying means and end position specifying meansinclude a special key provided on the keyboard, to specify the startposition and end position of the editorial area on the basis of acommand from the special key, and the color specifying means includescolor specifying keys arranged on the keyboard, to specify the displaycolor and background color of characters included in the specifiededitorial area of the document, on the basis of commands from the colorspecifying keys.

In general, a word processor or a personal computer having a wordprocessing function is provided with a central processing unit, adisplay device, and a keyboard serving as an input device, and thereforecan edit a document in colors by including the above-mentioned membersadditionally.

Further, in the above preferred embodiment, the editorial area storingmeans includes a first storage portion for storing the start position ofthe editorial area, and a second storage portion for storing the endposition of the editorial area.

The present invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of color display;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a word processor which includes anembodiment of a device for editing a document in colors according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the connection between refreshmemories and parallel-serial converters which are required for colordisplay;

FIGS. 4 and 5a through 5e are schematic diagrams for explaining variousstorage means or areas;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the processing for storing character datain the character data storing part 21 to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the main routine of editorial processingaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of editorialarea specifying means;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of colorspecifying means;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of colorinformation processing means;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of characterfont transfer means;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of characterfont information preparing means;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of an example of characterpattern preparing means; and

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are flow charts showing the operation of an exampleof each of red character pattern preparing means, green characterpattern preparing means and blue character pattern preparing means.

Now, an embodiment of a device for editing a document in colorsaccording to the present invention will be explained below, withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the outline of color display,that is, how character information stored in storage areas are processedwhen characters are displayed on the display screen of a CRT displaydevice. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a CRT display device,on the display screen of which characters A and B are displayed in sucha manner that the character A is placed at the left end position ofuppermost row and the character B is placed at the next position in thesame row, and 21 and 22 designate storage portions for storinginformation with respect to the characters A and B displayed on thedisplay screen. In more detail, reference numeral 21 designates acharacter information storing portion for storing information withrespect to the kind of each of the characters to be displayed, and 22designates a color information storing part for storing the displaycolor and background color of each of characters to be displayed.Incidentally, in FIG. 1, reference symbol A' designates information withregard to the kind of the character A, A" color information with respectto the character A, B' information with respect to the kind of thecharacter B, B" color information with respect to the character B, andDC a display control part. The display control part DC reads outinformation from the character information storing portion 21 and colorinformation storing portion 22, to control the CRT display device 1 onthe basis of the readout information so that a predetermined characteris displayed at a predetermined position on the display screen with apredetermined color and a predetermined background color.

As is apparent from the above, it is possible to edit a prepareddocument in colors by modifying the contents of the color informationstoring portion 22. A display part for displaying a predeterminedcharacter at a predetermined position on the basis of the contents ofeach of the character information storing portion 21 and colorinformation storing portion 22, will be explained later in detail.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a word processor which includes anembodiment of a device for editing a document in colors according to thepresent invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 designates a CRT, 2 arandom access memory (hereinafter referred to as "RAM"), 3 amicroprocessor serving as an arithmetic and logic unit, 4 a keyboardacting as an input device, 5 a read only memory (hereinafter referred toas "ROM"), 6 a clock generator for generating a clock signal which isused as the reference signal in operating the word processor, 7 a timingcontrol circuit, 8 an ROM for character fonts, 9 a CRT control circuit,10 a refresh memory, and 11 a parallel-serial converter.

The word processor is operated as follows. When character data isinputted by a key on the keyboard 4, the microprocessor 3 is operated onthe basis of an instruction included in a program which is previouslystored in the ROM 5, and a character font corresponding to the inputtedcharacter data is transferred from the character font storing ROM 8 to aposition in the refresh memory 10. Then, the next character data isinputted by another key on the keyboard 4, and a character fontcorresponding to the next character data is transferred from the ROM 8to the next position in the refresh memory 10. As mentioned above, acharacter font is sent to and stored into the refresh memory 10 eachtime character data is inputted by a key on the keyboard 4. Such anoperation is performed by the microprocessor 3 which has been operatedon the basis of the program stored in the ROM 5. The clock generator 6supplies the microprocessor 3 with the clock signal, to operate themicroprocessor 3 regularly.

The clock signal from the clock generator 6 is also applied to the CRTcontrol circuit 9. The CRT control circuit 9 reads out from the refreshmemory 10 in a period when the microprocessor 3 does not access therefresh memory 10. The read-out data is converted by the parallel-serialconverter 11 into a train of square pulses. The pulse train thusobtained is used as a video signal v which is applied to the CRT 1. TheCRT 1 also receives a synchronizing signal s which is delivered from theCRT control circuit 9. Thus, when an instantaneous value of the videosignal v takes a high level, a display dot on the display screen of theCRT which corresponds to the above instantenuous value, is made bright.The display screen of the CRT 1 is scanned in such a manner that thefirst (namely, uppermost) to last scanning lines are successivelyscanned and each scanning line is scanned from left to right, on thebasis of the synchronizing signal s, to be able to use all display dotson the display screen of the CRT 1. Accordingly, the CRT control circuit9 reads out data from the refresh memory 10 in such a manner that datato be displayed in the first row is successively read out in a directionfrom left to right and then data to be displayed in the second row issuccessively read out in a direction from left to right, and theread-out data is sent to the parallel-serial converter 11. The CRTcontrol circuit 9 sends memory addresses to the refresh memory 10 sothat data can be read out from the refresh memory 10 in theabove-mentioned manner.

Next, the processing for color display will be explained, with referenceto FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 101, 102 and 103 designaterefresh memories for red display, for green display and for bluedisplay, and 111, 112 and 113 parallel-serial converters for reddisplay, for green display and for blue display. The parallel-serialconverters 111, 112 and 113 correspond to the refresh memories 101, 102and 103, respectively. The operation of each of these parts 101 to 103and 111 to 113 will be explained below.

The refresh memories 101, 102 and 103 are simultaneously applied with adata read-out instruction which is sent out from the CRT control circuit9 and includes a read pulse, a row address, a column address, and so on.Thus, the refresh memories 101, 102 and 103 deliver data at the sametime. Data from the refresh memories 101, 102 and 103 are applied to theparallel-serial converters 111, 112 and 113, respectively, to beconverted into a red video signal v_(R), a green video signal v_(G) anda blue video signal v_(B), each of which has the form of a bit-serialpulse train. The video signal v_(R), v_(G) and v_(B) are applied to theCRT 1, to make bright or dark the red display dots, green display dotsand blue display dots, respectively, thereby performing color display.

It can be seen from the above explanation that, when different characterdata is written in the refresh memories 101, 102 and 103, differentcharacters corresponds to the written-in data are displayed on thedisplay screen of the CRT 1.

Next, explanation will be made on the editorial processing in colorswhich is the subject of the present invention. First, the contents ofeach of various information-storing parts or areas will be explained,with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5a through 5e. As explained previously andshown in FIG. 4, information as to the kind of each of the charactersdisplayed on the display screen of the CRT 1 such as the first andsecond characters, is stored in the character information storing part21, and color information with respect to each of these characters isstored in the color information storing part 22. The information as tothe kind of the characters and the color information thereof are storedin continuous storage areas of the storing part 21 and continuousstorage areas of the storing parts 22, respectively, in accordance withthe character display positions on the display screen of the CRT 1. Likea character code, color information of one character is stored in aone-byte storage area. The color information includes information withregard to the display color (hereinafter referred to as "front color")of a character and information with regard to the background color(hereinafter referred to as "back color") of the character. In FIG. 4,reference symbols R_(F), G_(F) AND B_(F) at the seventh, sixth and fifthbits of one byte correspond to a red front color, a green front colorand a blue front color, respectively, and reference symbols R_(B), G_(B)and B_(G) at the third, second and first bits correspond to a red backcolor, a green back color and a blue back color, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 5a through 5e, when a character code is specified, acharacter font corresponding to the specified character code is read outfrom the character font storing ROM 8, and is temporarily stored in astorage area P. Further, the inverted version of the pattern formed inthe storage area P is temporarily stored in a storage area P. In thecase where the character font is transferred to the refresh memory 10,data with regard to the character font is temporarily stored in one of astorage area R for red display, a storage area G for green display and astorage area B for blue display. The storing parts 21 and 22 and storageareas P, P, R, G and B are provided in the RAM 2 at predeterminedaddresses thereof.

The editorial processing in colors will be explained on the assumptionthat the character code and color information of each of the charactersto be displayed on the CRT 1 are previously stored in the character datastoring portion (namely, character information storing portion) 21 andthe color information storing portion 22, and on the assumption thatcharacters to be displayed on the CRT 1 have the same color throughoutthe display area and thus the same value is set in the whole region ofthe color information storing portion 22. The inputting of data to thecharacter data storing portion 21 and color information storing portion22 can be performed by well-known techniques and therefore detailedexplanation thereof is omitted. The flow chart of FIG. 6 briefly shows aprocedure for storing character data in the character data storingportion 21. A program corresponding to the above flow chart ispreviously stored in the ROM 5. Referring to FIG. 6, a pointer is set tothe start address of the character data storing portion 21 which isprovided in a predetermined area of the RAM 2 (step 61). Thus, thecharacter data storing portion 21 waits for input data for the keyboard4. A key on the keyboard 4 is depressed, to input a character codecorresponding to the key. It is judged to step 63 whether the inputtedcharacter code is a code for indicating the termination of a datainputting operation or not. When the inputted character code is not sucha code, the inputted character code is stored in the character datastoring portion 21 at an address specified by the pointer (step 64). Instep 65, the address specified by the pointer is incremented by one.Then, the processing in step 62 is again carried out, that is, anothercharacter code is inputted by means of the keyboard 4. Theabove-mentioned operation is repeated, and thus character codes aresuccessively stored in the character data storing portion 21. When it isjudged in step 63 that the code for indicating the termination of a datainputting operation has been given by the keyboard 4, the data inputtingoperation for the character data storing portion 21 terminates.

Now, the editorial processing in colors will be explained below. FIG. 7shows the main routine of an example of the above editorial processing.A program for carrying out the processing shown in FIG. 7 is previouslystored in the ROM 5, and is executed by the microprocessor 3. Means forcarrying out the above editorial processing is divided into first tofourth functional means. The first functional means is editorial areasetting means CRAS. A given area of the document displayed by the CRT 1is specified as a colored editorial area by the editorial area settingmeans CRAS. The second of functional means is color setting means ECRS.The display color and background color of characters in the editorialarea set by the editorial area setting means CRAS are specified by thecolor setting means ECRS. The third functional means is colorinformation processing means CTLE for the color information processingportion 22. The contents of that portion of the color informationprocessing portion 22 which corresponds to the editorial area set by theeditorial area setting means CRAS, are changed to color data which isset by the color setting means ECRS, by means of the color informationprocessing means CTLE. The fourth functional means is characters fonttransfer means RMMV for rewriting character font data included in thatpart of the refresh memory 10 which corresponds to the editorial areaset by the editorial area setting means CRAS. When respective contentsof the character data storing portion 21 and color information storingportion 22 are updated by the first to fourth functional means CRAS,ECRS, CTLE and RMMV, the previously-mentioned display control part DCtransfers the contents of the refresh memory 10 to the CRT 1, to displaythe document in a desired state.

Now, the first to fourth functional means CRAS, ECRS, CTLE and RMMV willbe explained below in more detail. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing theoperation of an example of the editorial area setting means CRAS. Acolored editorial area is set by storing the start and end positions ofa desired editorial area in the RAM 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8,the start and end portions of the colored editorial area are specifiedby a cursor on the display screen which has displayed a document. Inmore detail, a cursor displayed on the display screen is moved to adesired position by a cursor moving key which is provided on thekeyboard 4. When the cursor reaches the desired position, a return keyis pressed, to indicate that the desired position on the display screenis the start or end position of the colored editorial area, and to storethe desired position in the RAM 2. In this case, each of the start andend positions is given by one of various serial numbers such as [0],[1], [2], . . . and [n] which indicate the display positions on thedisplay screen of the CRT 1. Now, the flow chart of FIG. 8 will beexplained below. In step 801, the initial setting of cursor position isperformed. That is, the positional value of the cursor placed at thestart position of the display screen is set to [0]. In step 802, a keycode is inputted by the keyboard 4. In step 803, it is judged whetherthe inputted key code is a key code corresponding to a horizontalforward movement key HF or not. When the inputted key code is judged tocorrespond to the horizontal forward movement key HF, the cursorposition is advanced by one (step 804). When the inputted key code doesnot correspond to the horizontal forward movement key HF, the processingin step 805 is carried out, that is, it is judged whether the inputtedkey code is a key code corresponding to a horizontal backward movementkey HB or not. When the inputted key code is judged to correspond to thehorizontal backward movement key HB, the cursor position is caused toretrogress by one (step 806). When the inputted key code does notcorrespond to the horizontal backward movement key HB, the processing instep 807 is carried out, that is, the cursor is displayed at an updatedposition which is obtained by the processing in step 804 or 806.Further, it is judged in step 808 whether the key code inputted in step802 corresponds to a return key or not. When the inputted key code doesnot correspond to the return key, the processing in step 802 is againcarried out. The above operation is repeated till the cursor is placedon a desired one of the characters included in a document which isdisplayed on the display screen of the CRT 1. Then, the return key isdepressed, and it is judged in step 808 that the return key has beenpressed. In step 809, the present position of the cursor is stored, asthe start position of a colored editorial area, in the RAM 2 at apredetermined address thereof. The processing in steps 810 to 817 iscarried out to determine the end position of the colored editorial areaand to store this end position. The processing in steps 810 to 817 isidentical with the processing in steps 802 to 809, except that theprocessing in step 809 is carried out to store the start position of thecolored editorial area in the RAM 2 and the processing in step 817 iscarried out to store the end position of the above area in the RAM 2.Therefore, detailed explanation of steps 810 to 817 will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the color setting meansECRS for setting the color of the editorial area. The flow chart of FIG.9 shows the case where both the front color and the back color are set.That is, in the case where the front color is set, an "F" key is firstdepressed, and then color specifying keys such as an "R" key, a "G" keyand a "B" key are operated. Further, in the case where the back color isset, a "Ba" key is first depressed, and then the color specifying keyssuch as the "R" key, "G" key and "B" key are operated. The front andback colors thus determined are stored in predetermined storage areas ofthe RAM 2. The flow chart of FIG. 9 will be explained below in moredetail. In step 901, a key code is inputted by the keyboard 4, as in thepreviously-mentioned step 801. It is judged in step 902 whether theinputted key code corresponds to the "F" key for setting the front coloror not. When the inputted key code does not correspond to the "F" key,the processing in step 901 is again carried out. When the inputted keycode corresponds to the "F" key, the processing in step 903 is carriedout, that is, color information is inputted by the keyboard 4. In step904, the front color (namely, the display color of characters) indicatedby the inputted color information is stored in the RAM 2 at apredetermined address thereof. The processing in steps 905 to 908 iscarried out to set the back color. In step 905, a key code is inputtedby the keyboard 4 as in step 901. It is judged in step 906 whether thekey code inputted in step 905 corresponds to the "Ba" key for settingthe back color or not. When the inputted key code does not correspond tothe "Ba" key, the processing in step 905 is again carried out. When theinputted key code corresponds to the "Ba" key, the processing in step907 is carried out, that is, color information is inputted by thekeyboard 4. In step 908, the color information inputted in step 907 isstored, as the back color data, in the RAM 2 at a predetermined addressthereof.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the color informationprocessing means CTLE for processing the color information stored in thecolor information storing portion 22. According to the means CTLE, thedisplay color of each of the characters included in that portion of thecolor information storing portion which corresponds to the colorededitorial area set by the means CRAS, is set to the color specified bythe color setting means ECRS. In more detail, bits which correspond tothe above characters and indicate the same color as specified by themeans ECRS, are set to a level "1". As mentioned previously, the symbolsR_(F), G_(F) and B_(F) in FIG. 4 designate the red front colorindicating bit, green front color indicating bit and blue front colorindicating bit, respectively, and the symbols R_(B), G_(B) and B_(B)designate the red back color indicating bit, green back color indicatingbit and blue back color indicating bit, respectively. Now, the flowchart of FIG. 10 will be explained below in detail. In steps 1001 and1002, the editorial area start address and editorial area end address inthe color information storing part 22 are calculated on the basis of thestart and end positions of the colored editorial area by the means CRAS,and are stored in the RAM 2 at predetermined addresses thereof. Next, instep 1003, a pointer for indicating each address of the colorinformation storing portion 22 is set at the start address calculated instep 1001. Further, it is indicated that the following processing iscarried out at addresses specified by the pointer. In step 1004, thecolor information which has been stored in the RAM 2 in step 904 of FIG.9, is read out, and it is judged which of the red front color, greenfront color and blue front color is indicated by the read-out colorinformation. One of steps 1005, 1006 and 1007 is selected in accordancewith the front color thus determined, and thus one of the bis "R_(F) ","G_(R) " and "B_(R) " at the address indicated by the pointer is set tothe level "1". In step 1008, the color information which has been storedin the RAM 2 in step 908 of FIG. 9, is read out, and it is judged whichof the red back color, green back color and blue back color is indicatedby the read-out color information. One of steps 1009, 1010 and 1011 isselected in accordance with the back color thus determined, and thus oneof the bits "R_(B) ", "G_(B) " and "B_(B) " at the address indicated bythe pointer is set to the level "1". In step 1012, the address indicatedby the pointer is advanced by one, to perform the above operation at thenext address. It is judged in step 1013 whether the advanced address isgreater than the end address calculated in step 1002, or not. When theadvanced address is greater than the end address, the color updatingprocessing terminates. When the advanced address is not greater than theend address, the processing in step 1004 is carried out.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation of the character fonttransfer means RMMV. That is, FIG. 11 shows the processing for modifying(or editing) the front color and back color of character fonts includedin that portion of the refresh memory 10 which corresponds to thecolored editorial area. Now, the flow chart of FIG. 11 will be explainedbelow in detail. In step 1101, those addresses of the character datastoring portion 21 and color information storing portion 22 whichcorrespond to the start position of the colored editorial area set bythe means CRAS, are calculated on the basis of the above start position,and each of these addresses is set in a pointer. Similarly, in step1102, that address of the refresh memory 10 which corresponds to thestart position of the colored editorial area, is calculated and is setin a pointer. Next, character font information is prepared by characterfont preparing means GCP which will be explained later. Then, red, greenand blue character patterns are prepared by character pattern preparingmeans CPG which will be explained later. Thereafter, in step 1103, thered, green and blue character patterns thus obtained are transferredrespectively to those addresses of the refresh memories 101, 102 and 103which are indicated by pointers. Such processing is carried outthroughout the colored editorial area. That is, in step 1104, the nextone of that address of the character data storing portion 21 which hasbeen calculated in step 1101, is set in the pointer, and further thenext one of that address of the color information storing portion 22which has been calculated in step 1101, is set in the pointer. In step1105, the contents of the pointer having stored that address of therefresh memory 10 which has been calculated in step 1102, are advancedby one character. In step 1106, it is judged whether an addressindicated by each pointer is greater than an address corresponding tothe end position of the colored editorial area or not. When the addressindicated by the pointer is not greater than the address correspondingto the above end point, the processing by the character font informationpreparing means GCP is again carried out. When the address indicated bythe pointer is greater than the address corresponding to the endposition, the above processing for the refresh memory 10 terminates.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the character fontinformation preparing means GCP. Referring to FIG. 12, a character codeis read out from the character data storing part 21 (step 1201). Then, acharacter font corresponding to the character code is read out from thecharacter font storing ROM 8 (step 1202). Incidentally, character fontsare stored in the ROM 8 in order of character codes. The read-outcharacter font is temporarily stored in a predetermined storage area Pof the RAM 2 (step 1203). An inverted version of character font datastored in the area P is temporarily stored in another predeterminedstorage area P of the RAM 2.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of the character patternpreparing means CPG. Referring to FIG. 13, red character pattern, greencharacter pattern and blue character pattern which will be transferredto the refresh memories 101, 102 and 103, respectively, are prepared inthe storage areas R, G and B of FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, by means of redcharacter pattern preparing means RPGN, green character patternpreparing means GPGN and blue character pattern preparing means BPGN.The operation of each of the means RPGN, GPGN and BPGN will be explainedbelow in detail, with reference to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. FIG. 14 is aflow chart showing the operation of the red character pattern preparingmeans RPGN. Referring to FIG. 14, the zero clear is performed for thestorage area R (step 1401). Then, it is judged in step 1402 whether thebit R_(F) in the color information storing part 22 has a level "1" ornot. When the bit R_(F) has the level "1", the character fontinformation which has been stored in the storage area P in step 1203 ofFIG. 12, is transferred to the storage area R (step 1403). Then, it isjudged in step 1404 whether the bit R_(B) in the color informationstoring part 22 has the level "1" or not. When the bit R_(B) has thelevel "1", the logical sum of the character font information which hasbeen stored in the storage area P in step 1204 of FIG. 12, and thecharacter font information stored in the storage area R, is produced andstored in the storage area R (step 1405).

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the operation of the green characterpattern preparing means GPGN. Referring to FIG. 14, the zero clear isperformed for the storage area G (step 1501). Then, it is judged in step1505 whether the bit G_(F) in the color information storing part 22 hasthe level "1" or not. When the G_(F) has the level "1", the characterfont information which has been stored in the storage area P in step1203 of FIG. 12, is transferred to the storage area G (area 1503). Then,it is judged in step 1504 whether the bit G_(B) has the level "1" ornot. When the bit G_(B) has the level "1", the logical sum of thecharacter font information which has been stored in the storage area Pin step 1204 of FIG. 12, and the character font information stored inthe storage area G, is produced and stored in the storage area G (step1505).

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the operation of the blue characterpattern preparing means BPGN. Referring to FIG. 16, the zero clear isperformed for the storage area B (step 1601). Then, it is judged in step1602 whether the bit B_(F) in the color information storing portion 22has the level "1" or not. When the bit B_(F) has the level "1", thecharacter font information which has been stored in the storage area Pin step 1203 of FIG. 12, is transferred to the storage area B (step1603). Then, it is judged in step 1604 whether the bit B_(B) has thelevel "1" or not. When the bit B_(B) has the level "1", the logical sumof the character font information which has been stored in the storagearea P in step 1204 of FIG. 12 and the character font information storedin the storage area B, is produced and stored in the storage area B(step 1605).

As has been explained in the foregoing, a cursor is placed at the startposition of that area of a document displayed on the display screen ofthe CRT 1 which is required to be emphasized by color display, and thena return key is depressed. Further, the cursor is placed at the endposition of the above area, and then the return key is depressed. Thus,a colored editorial area can be set. Further, the above area of thedocument can be emphasized by color display, by operating a keycorresponding to a desired background color. Thus, a document editingdevice is obtained which utilizes a color display device effectively.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a CRT display device has been usedfor display purposes. However, various display devices such as a liquidcrystal display device and a plasma display device can be used in placeof the CRT display device. Further, in the embodiment, the start and endpositions of an editorial area have been set in such a manner that acursor is moved to a desired position by a cursor moving key on thekeyboard and then a return key is depressed. However, the abovepositions may be set by coordinate inputting devices such as a lightpen, a finger touch input device, a tablet, a mouse, and a joystick.Further, various members having the same function as the return key canbe used in place the return key.

Further, in the embodiment, various programs have been stored in the ROM5. However, the programs may be stored in the RAM 2 before a wordprocessor or the like is operated. That is, the programs are stored inthe ROM 5 or RAM 2, depending upon the structure of the word processoror the like.

In the embodiment, arithmetic operations based upon programs have beenperformed by the microprocessor 3. Needless to say, general arithmeticand logic units similar in function to the microprocessor 3 may be usedin place of the microprocessor 3.

I claim:
 1. A device for editing a document in colors,comprising:character information storing means for storing characteridentification information as to each of a number of characters includedin a document which is to be displayed on a display screen; colorinformation storing means associated with said character informationstoring means for storing color information as to at least one of thedisplay color and background color of each of said characters; displaymeans for displaying a document on said display screen in apredetermined color, including dot pattern reflush memory means forstoring dot pattern data based on information stored in said characterinformation storing means and said color information storing means;editorial area specifying means for selectively specifying a desiredcharacter or character string in the document displayed on said displayscreen, as an editorial area, by referring to said desired character orcharacter string on the display screen; editorial area storing means forstoring positional information corresponding to the editorial areaspecified by said editorial area specifying means; color specifyingmeans for specifying and storing at least one of the display color andbackground color of characters in said specified editorial area of saiddocument in the form of color specifying information in response to anoperator command; and color information processing means coupled betweensaid editorial area storing means and said color specifying means forupdating the contents of a portion of said color information storingmeans which corresponds to said editorial area, on the basis of colorspecifying information from said color specifying means, whereby dotpattern data stored in said dot pattern refresh memory means is modifiedin response to said updating of said color information storing means. 2.A device for editing a document in colors as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid editorial area specifying means includes a cursor displayed on saiddisplay screen, cursor control means for controllably moving said cursoron said display screen, start position specifying means for specifying afirst position where said cursors is located by said cursor controlmeans as the start position of said editorial area, and end positionspecifying means for specifying a second position where said cursor islocated by said cursor control means as the end position of saideditorial area.
 3. A device for editing a document in colors as claimedin claim 2, wherein said cursor control means includes a cursor controlkey provided on a keyboard and the movement of said cursor is controlledon the basis of a command from said cursor control key.
 4. A device forediting a document in colors as claimed in claim 2, wherein said startposition specifying means and said end position specifying means includea special key provided on a keyboard, and said start position and endposition of said editorial area are specified on the basis of a commandfrom said special key.
 5. A device for editing a document in colors asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said editorial area storing means includes afirst storage portion for storing information as to the start positionof said editorial area specified by said start position specifyingmeans, and a second storage portion for storing information as to theend position of said editorial area specified by said end positionspecifying means.
 6. A device for editing a document in colors asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said color specifying means includes a colorspecifying keys arranged on a keyboard, and the display color andbackground color of characters included in said specified editorial areaof said document are specified on the basis of commands from said colorspecifying keys.
 7. A device for editing a document in colors as claimedin claim 1, wherein said editorial area storing means includes a firststorage portion for storing the start position of said editorial areaand a second storage portion for storing the end position of saideditorial area.
 8. A device for editing a document in colors,comprising:character information storing means for storing characteridentification information as to each of a number of characters includedin a document which is to be displayed on a display screen; colorinformation storing means associated with said character informationstoring means for storing color information as to the display color andbackground color of each of said characters; display means fordisplaying a document on said display screen in a predetermined color,including dot pattern refresh memory means for storing dot pattern databased on information stored in said character information storing meansand said color information storing means; means for displaying a cursoron said display screen; cursor control means for controllably movingsaid cursor on said display screen; start position specifying means forselectively specifying a first position where said cursor is located bysaid cursor control means as the start position of a desired editorialarea; end position specifying means for selectively specifying a secondposition where said cursor is located by said cursor control means asthe end position of the desired editorial area; first storage means forstoring positional information as to the start position of an editorialarea specified by said start position specifying means; second storagemeans for storing positional information as to the end position of theeditorial area specified by said end position specifying means; colorspecifying means for specifying and storing in the form of color settinginformation the display color and background color of charactersincluded in an editorial area of said document in response to operatorselection, said editorial area being specified by the positionalinformation stored in said first storage means and the positionalinformation stored in said second storage means; and color informationprocessing means for updating the contents of a portion of said colorinformation storing means which corresponds to said editorial area ofsaid document, on the basis of color setting information stored in saidcolor specifying means, whereby dot pattern data stored in said dotpattern refresh memory means is modified in response to said updating ofsaid color information storing means.
 9. A device for editing a documentin colors as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cursor control meansincludes a cursor control key provided on a keyboard, and the movementof said cursor is controlled on the basis of a command from said cursorcontrol key.
 10. A device for editing a document in colors as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said start position specifying means and said endposition specifying means include a special key provided on a keyboard,and the start position and end position of said desired editorial areaare specified on the basis of a command from said special key.
 11. Adevice for editing a document in colors as claimed in claim 8, whereinsaid color specifying means includes color specifying keys arranged on akeyboard, and the display color and background color of charactersincluded in said specified editorial area of said document are specifiedon the basis of commands from said color specifying keys. .Iadd.
 12. Adevice for editing a document in colors, comprising:(a) characterinformation storing means for storing information of each of charactersincluded in a document which is to be displayed on a display screen; (b)color information storing means for storing color information as to atleast one of the display color and background color of each of saidcharacters; (c) editorial area specifying means for specifying a desirededitorial area of the document which is to be displayed on the displayscreen, in response to an input of an operator; (d) editorial areastoring means for storing the editorial area specified by said editorialarea specifying means; (e) color specifying means for specifying colorinformation specifying at least one of the display color and backgroundcolor for certain characters of said document displayed on the displayscreen in response to an input of the operator; (f) dot pattern refreshstoring means for storing dot pattern display information to bedisplayed on the display screen which is generated based on informationstored in said character information storing means and said colorinformation storing means; and (g) color information processing meansfor updating the contents of said color information storing means whichcorresponds to said editorial area, on the basis of color specifyinginformation from said color information specifying means, whereby dotpattern information stored in said dot pattern refresh storing means ismodified in response to said updating of said color information storingmeans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A device according to claim 12, wherein saideditorial area specifying means includes a first memory storing a startposition of said editorial area and a second memory storing an endposition of said editorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A device forediting a document in colors, comprising an input unit and a processingunit, said input unit comprising: (a) editorial area specifying meansfor specifying a desired editorial area of a document which is to bedisplayed on a display screen, in response to an input of an operator;and (b) color specifying means for specifying and outputting colorinformation specifying at least one of the display color and backgroundcolor of certain characters of said document displayed on the displayscreen in response to an input operation by the operator; saidprocessing unit comprising: (c) character information storing means forstoring information of each of characters included in a document whichis to be displayed on said display screen; (d) color information storingmeans for storing color information as to at least one of the displaycolor and background color of each of said characters; (e) dot patternrefresh storing means for storing dot pattern display information whichis generated based on information stored in said character informationstoring means and said color information storing means; (f) editorialarea storing means for storing an editorial area of a document to bedisplayed based on input information from said editorial area specifyingmeans; and (g) color information processing means for updating thecontents of said color information storing means which corresponds tosaid editorial area stored in said editorial area storing means, on thebasis of color specifying information from said color informationspecifying means, whereby dot pattern information stored in said dotpattern refresh storing means is modified in response to said updatingof said color information storing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said editorial area specifying meanscomprises: cursor control means for controllably moving on the displayscreen, a cursor displayed thereon; start position specifying means forspecifying a first position where said cursor is located by said cursorcontrol means as the start position of said editorial area; and endposition specifying means for specifying a second position where saidcursor is located by said cursor control means as the end position ofsaid editorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A device according to claim 15,wherein said cursor control means includes a cursor control key providedon a keyboard and the movement of said cursor is controlled on the basisof a command from said cursor control key. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein said start position specifying means andsaid end position specifying means include a special key provided on akeyboard, and said start position and said end position of saideditorial area are specified on the basis of a command from said specialkey. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A device according to claim 15, wherein saideditorial area storing means includes a first storage portion forstoring information as to the start position of said editorial areaspecified by said start position specifying means, and a second storageportion for storing information as to the end position of said editorialarea specified by said end position specifying means. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A device according to claim 15, wherein said color specifyingmeans includes color specifying keys arranged on a keyboard, and thedisplay color and background color of characters included in saidspecified editorial area of said document are specified on the basis ofcommands from said color specifying keys. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein said editorial area storing meansincludes a first storage portion for storing the start position of saideditorial area and a second storage portion for storing the end positionof said editorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A device for editing adocument in colors, comprising a processing unit and a display unit,saidprocessing unit comprising: (a) character information storing means forstoring information of each of characters included in a document whichis to be displayed on a display screen; (b) color information storingmeans for storing color information as to at least one of the displaycolor and background color of each of said characters; (c) editorialarea specifying means for specifying a desired editorial area of thedocument which is to be displayed on the display screen; (d) editorialarea storing means for storing the editorial area specified by saideditorial area specifying means; (e) color specifying means forspecifying color information specifying at least one of the displaycolor and background color of characters in each character of saiddocument displayed on the display screen; (f) color informationprocessing means for updating the contents of said color informationstoring means which corresponds to said editorial area, on the basis ofcolor specifying information from said color information specifyingmeans; and (g) dot pattern refresh storing means for storing dot patterndisplay information to be displayed on the display screen which isgenerated based on information stored in said character informationstoring means and said color information storing means, whereby dotpattern information stored in said dot pattern refresh storing means ismodified in response to said updating of said color information storingmeans; and said display unit comprising: display means supplied with thedot pattern display information stored in said dot pattern refreshstoring means for displaying a given character in a given color on thedisplay screen. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A device according to claim 21,wherein said editorial area storing means includes a first memory forstoring a start position of said editorial area and a second memory forstoring an end position of said editorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. Adevice for editing a document in colors, comprising an input unit and aprocessing unit,said input unit comprising: (a) editorial areaspecifying means for specifying and outputting a desired editorial areaof a document which is to be displayed on a display screen, incorrespondence with said display screen; and (b) color specifying meansfor specifying and outputting color information specifying at least oneof the display color and background color of characters of said documentdisplayed on the display screen; said processing unit comprising: (c)character information storing means for storing information of each ofcharacters included in a document which is to be displayed on saiddisplay screen; (d) color information storing means for storing colorinformation as to at least one of the display color and background colorof each of said characters; (e) dot pattern refresh storing means forstoring dot pattern display information which is generated based oninformation stored in said character information storing means and saidcolor information storing means; (f) editorial area storing means forstoring a specified editorial area based on input information from saideditorial area specifying means; and (g) color information processingmeans for updating the contents of said color information storing meanswhich corresponds to said editorial area stored in said editorial areastoring means, on the basis of color specifying information from saidcolor information specifying means, whereby dot pattern informationstored in said dot pattern refresh storing means is modified in responseto said updating of said color information storing means; and (h)display means supplied with the information stored in said dot patternrefresh storing means for displaying a given character in a given coloron said display screen. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A device according to claim23, wherein said editorial area specifying means comprises:cursorcontrol means for controllably moving on the display screen, a cursordisplayed thereon; start position specifying means for specifying afirst position where said cursor is located by said cursor control meansas the start position of said editorial area; and end positionspecifying means for specifying a second position where said cursor islocated by said cursor control means as the end position of saideditorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A device according to claim 24,wherein said cursor control means includes a cursor control key providedon a keyboard and the movement of said cursor is controlled on the basisof a command from said cursor control key. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A deviceaccording to claim 24, wherein said start position specifying means andsaid end position specifying means include a special key provided on akeyboard, and said start position and said end position of saideditorial area are specified on the basis of a command from said specialkey. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A device according to claim 24, wherein saideditorial area storing means includes a first storage portion forstoring information as to the start position of said editorial areaspecified by said start position specifying means, and a second storageportion for storing information as to the end position of said editorialarea specified by said end position specifying means. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A device according to claim 24, wherein said color specifyingmeans includes color specifying keys arranged on a keyboard, and thedisplay color and background color of characters included in saidspecified editorial area of said document are specified on the basis ofcommands from said color specifying keys. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A deviceaccording to claim 24, wherein said editorial area storing meansincludes a first storage portion for storing the start position of saideditorial area and a second storage portion for storing the end positionof said editorial area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A method of editing adocument in colors, by highlighting a character or character stringincluded in a document, on a display screen, comprising the steps of:(a)specifying a start position of a character or character string to behighlighted in correspondence with said display screen; (b) specifyingan end position of the character or character string to be highlightedin correspondence with said display screen; (c) selecting colorinformation for a specified character or character string to behighlighted; and (d) modifying the character or character stringspecified by said specified start position and said specified endposition, with said selected color information for display. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said start positionspecifying step (a) and said end position specifying step (b) areperformed prior to said color information selecting step (c). .Iaddend..Iadd.32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said start positionspecifying step (a) is performed prior to said end position specifyingstep (b). .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A method of editing a document in colors,in highlighting a character or character string included in a document,on a display screen, comprising the steps executed in the sequenceof:(a) specifying a start position of a character or character string tobe highlighted in correspondence with said display screen; (b)specifying an end position of the character or character string to behighlighted in correspondence with said display screen; (c) selectingcolor information for said specified character or character string to behighlighted; and (d) modifying the character or character stringspecified by said specified start position and said specified endposition, with said selected color information for display. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A device for editing data to be displayed in colors,comprising:(a) character information storing means for storinginformation for each of a plurality of character included in data whichis to be displayed on a display screen; (b) color information storingmeans for storing color information as to at least one of the displaycolor and background color of each of said characters; (c) editorialarea specifying means for specifying a desired editorial area of thedocument which is to be displayed on the display screen, in response toan input of an operator; (d) editorial area storing means for storingthe editorial area specified by said editorial area specifying means;(e) color specifying means for specifying color information specifyingat least one of the display color and background color of certaincharacters of said data to be displayed on the display screen inresponse to an input of the operator; (f) dot pattern refresh generatingmeans for generating dot pattern display information to be displayed onthe display screen based on information stored in said characterinformation storing means and said color information storing means; and(g) color information processing means for updating the contents of saidcolor information storing means which corresponds to said editorialarea, on the basis of color specifying information from said colorinformation specifying means, whereby dot pattern information generatedby said dot pattern refresh generating means is modified in response tosaid updating of said color information storing means. .Iaddend.